A. Maternity leave, a period of approved absence for incapacitation related to pregnancy an confinement, is chargeable to sick leave or any combination sick leave, annual leave, and leave without pay in the order given.

B. Employees Responsibility – Employees are required to request maternity leave substantially in advance of their intended absence so that prior staffing adjustments may be made.

C. Periods of maternity leave shall be based on individual medical determination. The usual period of authorized maternity leave is approximately 12 weeks but it can vary among individuals. However, the decision of the Chief Executive Officer or other authorized operating official to permit an employee to work up to less than eight weeks before the expected date of delivery shall be made only after consultation with the employee or the Medical Director or the representative.

D. Responsibility of Management – When there is any reservation regarding the physical ability of a pregnant employee to perform their duties without hazard to their health, the Chief Executive Officer or other cognizant authorized operating official shall request the employee to furnish a medical certificate. An employee whose incapacitation for performance of duty is certified for a period commending earlier then eight weeks before the expected date of delivery or extending shall also be required to furnish a medical certificate to the supervisor when their physical condition may become affected by her work.

E. Granting Maternity Leave Beyond the Usual Period – If the employee at the end of their maternity leave, is physically incapacitated for return to duty, sick leave (within the amount available), annual leave (within the amount available), or leave without pay may be granted upon receipt of certification of the need therefore by attending physician or practitioner. Such additional leave shall be granted strictly on a discretionary basis after careful consideration of the work requirements of the affected position, even to the point of ascertaining the need for continuance of the job.

F. Control of Sick Leave Grants for Maternity – Chief Executive Officer and other authorized operating officials shall require proper medical certification for each day of incapacitation due to pregnancy or confinement for which sick leave is granted. This certification shall be obtained in advance and be considered adequate justification for absence chargeable to sick leave. Absence not medically certified to be due to incapacitation for performance of duty, whether it occurs before or after deliver, shall be charged to annual leave if available, or upon the request of the employee, to leave without pay.

G. Investigation of Working Conditions of Pregnant Employees – Pregnant employees should not be used in occupations that involve heavy lifting or other work which requires continuous standing or moving about, neither should they be employed during pregnancy in work involving exposure to toxic substances that exert an injurious effect upon the blood-forming organs, the liver or the kidneys. When the Chief Executive Officer or other authorized operating official finds that the duties of the pregnant employee require activity or exposure which may be injurious to their health or the health of the unborn child, every reasonable effort shall be made to temporarily reassign the employee to other available non-injurious work for which the employee is qualified. The objective is to provide the employee with gainful employment and to make use of the employee skills for as long as the employee is not incapacitated for duty. If another assignment is not available and a medical certificate of the employee’s incapacitation for the duties of the employee regular position is received, shall be placed on leave immediately.